Gameday Central: New Mexico State at Texas

AUSTIN –An hour into the season that was supposed to mark Texas’ resurgence, thousands of new Longhorn Network viewers wondered if maybe they were better off without it.

The Longhorns trailed New Mexico State, their new up-tempo offense was self-destructing, their fans were booing, and their giant “Godzillatron” video board was on the fritz.

And UT quarterback David Ash knew his team would handle it just fine.

“We’ve been in that situation, I don’t know how many times, and we failed before,” Ash said after UT rallied for a 56-7 romp at Royal-Memorial Stadium. “But we know how to cope. So much of football is believing.”

When the belief started turning into results, they came in a hurry.

In what seemed like a sudden flick of a switch, Ash finally rediscovered his confidence. The Longhorns’ offense finally rediscovered its pace. Godzillatron finally rediscovered its power supply. And UT wound up gaining more yardage than in any previous game in program history.

“That’s amazing,” UT offensive play-caller Major Applewhite said of the Longhorns’ record 715 yards of total offense. “Because no one feels like we did.”

After the Aggies – who went 1-11 last year – took a 7-0 lead with 2:28 remaining in the second quarter, the Longhorns’ offense showed why Applewhite and head coach Mack Brown were so excited about it all summer.

On its next 15 snaps, UT scored five touchdowns and gained 342 yards. Ash, who’d thrown two interceptions earlier in the second quarter, began the onslaught with a 54-yard touchdown pass to John Harris, then hit Daje Johnson for a 66-yard score with his next throw.

“You feel that momentum shift, when things start rolling,” Ash said. “We’re a good team when that happens.”

In the span of about nine minutes, UT reeled off four touchdowns covering 50 yards or more. By way of comparison, the Longhorns managed only six such scoring plays during all of last season.

Ash finished the game 20-for-28 for 343 yards with four passing touchdowns. He also ran eight times for 91 yards and another score.

Johnson racked up 129 rushing and receiving yards combined. Malcolm Brown caught three passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, and fourth-string tailback Jalen Overstreet led all rushers with 92 yards.

“I think the guys like (the new offense),” Brown said. “Anybody can get the ball on any run or pass.”

Early on, though, little was encouraging about UT’s faster-paced attack. The Longhorns’ first five possessions ended with a Mike Davis fumble, a failed fourth down, a punt, and back-to-back Ash interceptions.

When UT staggered to similarly brutal starts in 2011 and 2012, it usually led to more disaster. But much like last December’s Valero Alamo Bowl victory, this time the Longhorns managed to turn things around.

“That’s a sign of a mature team,” Applewhite said. “I don’t think they would have done it a year or two ago.”

Although it didn’t look quite as bad as Applewhite’s unit early in the game, UT’s defense also had to overcome some struggles. New Mexico State gained 196 yards in the first half, and finished with 346.

“Everything that could happen wrong, happened wrong in the first half,” Brown said. “I’m proud of our composure.”

mfinger@express-news.net
Twitter: @mikefinger

Third-quarter update

AUSTIN – It turns out, Texas was serious about going up-tempo after all.

The Longhorns took almost two full quarters to get going at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, but once they did, the big plays kept coming. After spotting New Mexico State a seven-point lead, they scored five touchdowns in 15 offensive snaps and took a 35-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

Four Texas scoring plays, including a 55-yard touchdown run by David Ash and a 74-yard pass from Ash to Malcolm Brown, covered 50 yards or more. By comparison, the Longhorns had only six of those plays during all of last season.

Ash, who threw two interceptions in the first half, finished the third quarter 19-for-27 with 318 passing yards, and also had 91 yards on eight rushes.

Halftime update

AUSTIN – After the boos came down, the power to the giant scoreboard went out and the old familiar dread set in, the Texas Longhorns finally woke up on Saturday night.

David Ash’s final two passes of the second quarter went for a combined 110 yards and two touchdowns, and the No. 15 Longhorns took a 14-7 lead against New Mexico State into halftime at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

UT committed three turnovers on its first five drives, including two Ash interceptions. And when Andrew McDonald completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Bowen, the Aggies – who went 1-11 last year – had a 7-0 lead.

But Ash, who had difficulties overcoming slow starts last year, responded well this time. On the second play of the next drive, he hit John Harris on a 54-yard touchdown pass. Then, after UT forced a punt, Ash found Daje Johnson on a slant for a 66-yard score.

First-quarter update

AUSTIN – The only thing up-tempo about Texas’ new offense is the trips the Longhorns keep taking to the sideline.

The 15th-ranked Longhorns sputtered early against New Mexico State at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, and the two teams finished the first quarter in a scoreless tie.

The Aggies’ outgained the Longhorns in total yards 77-74, and held the ball for almost six minutes longer than UT.

The Longhorns’ first three drives ended in a Mike Davis fumble, a failed fourth down, and a three-and-out.

Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images

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The Longhorns are hoping to have another successful year with David Ash at the helm in 2013.

The Longhorns are hoping to have another successful year with David Ash at the helm in 2013.